I think any government agency or N.G.O. is no good to improve on the living condition's, there is the serious need to lokk into the specific area and there problems and find the solutions to them which is available in the vicinities,
I also feel that the model village (raleganasiddhi) developed by Shri annasaheb hazare should considered as the role model and I've also heard that some university is imparting training to the aspiring candidates,
By doing so we will definitely achieve the self dependency in the villages and their economies,

A farmer commits suicide every 30 minutes in India.
Since Independence, Indian regime has been treating farmers/peasants as their slaves by prohibiting them from prospering and banned them from exporting their crops to foreign countries for profit.

Now Indian regime is grabbing farmers/peasants land and giving it to Industrialists/SEZs so that they can export their goods to foreign countries for profit.

I sincerely hope this article is read and studied by all who are at the helms of state affairs like eradication of poverty and empowerment of SCs and STs in India especially the so-called BIMARU states.J.M.Dave

On one side C.G. govt is trying hard to avoid famine by introducing PDS, on the other side govt. is making the poors mentally handicapped. The farmer who gets all the meals in very low price does not want to go to his farm. He is becoming lazy day by day because he knows that there is meal stored by govt for him and he does not need to work hard in the sunlight.

This is a fantastic report.Thanks for bringing the core issues to the front. Indian hinterland is a melodrama... , there is dispair but strangely enough, there is hope. Sometimes the time gap between two close regions could span a few centuries, and it is surely coming down. With all its ills, democracy is working in India.

Theft is considered a privilege by some in countries where corruption is rampant and deprives the society of the developmental advantages and growth among the poor. Innovative policies will definitely rid the society of theft & corruption but the politicians & political system must respond honestly to the needs of those who voted for them. India & Bangladesh are among the countries of the world where theft and corruptions are proudly practiced in the open. It is good to see policies being implemented in India to reach the benefits of the poverty alleviation programs to the poor. Change has its own pace but educating the beneficiaries of the programs benefiting them is more important and must be put in place first as is being done in parts of India.

Area of U.P.is too much vast that is curse for development on the contrary area of Chattisgarh is small, boon for development.Another reason is U.P.elected 80 MP for parliament ambition of every chief minister of U.P.is become P.M.on strength of 80 M.P.so he waste all his energy elect more and more MP.do not have time to develop U.P.Chattisgarh C.M. have limited ambition to elect next time must develop the state

This is pure escapism. If the population is large so is the amount of grains produced/given and distribution locations. It is an issue of policy and political will as is pointed out by the article. What else can you expect with vote bank and jaati politics. Ironically that is not the way it is done in Raghuvansh

I would call it best pratice where goverenmnet initiative (Kailash pur chhattisgarh )not only bring improvement in the life standard but also empoerpower rural poor by education and awarness raising. One hand ruduce the chances of corrution by involving local commuities in the process and encourage self-help practice. Thank you for sharing.

I would call it best pratice where goverenmnet initiative (Kailash pur chhattisgarh )not only bring improvement in the life standard but also empoerpower rural poor by education and awarness raising. One hand ruduce the chances of corrution by involving local commuities in the process and encourage self-help practice. Thank you for sharing.

Nice report. Thanks for sharing.
It's good to hear that creating a separate state seems to have paid off for the Adivasi population of Chattisgarh.
How is Jharkhand fairing? Not quite as well to my knowledge.

Would be nice if TE had an India section too (although it's obvious that India is still lagging economically compared to China). On the other hand, India in many of its interior parts has a semblance of Africa, so what is being tried in India may be of interest for the future of less developed parts of the world.
Perhaps there are ways of development other than industrialization and urbanization...

Thanks to the Economist to have focussed on such a vital matter-affecting the lives of our people.As a former Public official in Govt of MP-from which the new State of Chhatisgarh was carved out.One feels happy to note that PDS is better administered in Chhatisgarh,than in UP.As a former Collector/D.M-Durg in Chhatisgarh,can say that an enlighetened political leadership,and a responsive local administration can definitely improve the quality of lives of our citizens.It is hoped that Govt of UP would take note of this and improve matters in a time bound manner.

okay, it was Rajiv not Sanjay Gandhi who candidly remarked that only a fraction of public money reaches it's actual intended recipient, but apart from this glitch, an excellent read about how we can improve PDS by collective / community ownership of supply chain instead of private PDS mafia!